The Columbia Police Department issued a written statement Wednesday saying it respects an appeals court decision that reversed the murder and robbery convictions of Ryan Ferguson in the killing of Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt.

The police department said it will follow up on any new information that is brought to its attention.

Ferguson was freed Tuesday evening after the Missouri attorney general decided not to re-try him.

Chuck Erickson remains in prison after pleading guilty to Heitholt's murder. Erickson originally testified against Ferguson but later recanted.

Ferguson says neither one of them killed Heitholt.

"I believe we know who did it. I think it's a matter of proving it and a matter of getting help from the authorities at this point," he said. "I think the facts show clearly who did it. You know, I'm not going to throw names out there. But anyone who takes the time to look at the evidence, I think it will become obvious to them who that individual is."

Ferguson said he can't imagine how Heitholt's family is feeling right now. He said he hopes they will one day learn who committed the crime.

BRONCOS IN ALL OF OUR NEWSCASTS -- THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND AND MONDAY MORNING. A 29-YEAR-OLD MISSOURI MAN - IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HIS NEXT MOVE -- AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON. RYAN FERGUSON HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS CONVICTED - OF KILLING A COLUMBIA DAILY TRIBUNE SPORTS EDITOR BACK IN 2001. KMBC NINE'S DIANE CHO IS LIVE - LOOK INTO ANY NEW LEADS IN THE DEATH OF KENT HEITHOLT. AFTER ONE OF TWO MEN CONVICTED OF THE CRIME - WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY. THEY ISSUED A WRITTEN STATEMENT TODAY - SAYING THAT IT RESPECTS AN APPEALS COURT DECISION - OVERTURNING FERGUSON'S MURDER CONVICTION - AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON ANY NEW INFORMATION IN THE CASE. FERGUSON'S HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE - CHUCK ERICKSON - REMAINS IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO HEITHOLT'S MURDER. ERICKSON ORIGINALLY TESTIFIED AGAINST FERGUSON BUT LATER RECANTED IN 2012 - FERGUSON MAINTAINS THAT NEITHER OF THEM KILLED HEITHOLT - AND THAT HIS KILLER - IS STILL OUT THERE. CNN: ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE WE KNOW WHO DID IT. I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF PROVING IT AND A MATTER OF GETTING HELP FROM THE AUTHORITIES AT THIS POINT. I THINK THE FACTS SHOW CLEARLY WHO DID IT. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO THROW NAMES OUT THERE. BUT ANYONE WHO TAKES THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE, I THINK IT WILL BECOME OBVIOUS TO THEM WHO THAT INDIVIDUAL IS. FERGUSON SAYS HE CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HEITHOLT'S FAMILY MUST BE FEELING RIGHT NOW - BUT HE HOPES THAT ONE DAY THEY WLIL LEARN WHO ACTUALLY COMMITTED THE CRIME. COMING UP AT 6 - WE'LL HEAR